Car roof



Sept 16, 1941- c. D. BoNsALL 2,256,309'

CAR ROOF Filed Oct. l2, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l CAR ROOF Filed Oct. l2, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l ff sept. 16, 1.941.

C. D. BONSALL CAR ROOF Filed 0G11. l2, 1938 Patented Sept. 16, 1941 l UNiTED STATES PATENT oFFicE can Roon Charles David Bonsall, Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner to Standard Railway Equipment Manufacturing Company, New Kensington, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application octeber'lz, 193s, serial No. 234,532 6 claims. (01.105-457) This invention relates to car roofs, and more sheets 2 are oli-set upwardly along the middle particularly to the metal running board conthereof to form the hollow roof ribs A, while the structions of metal car roofsof the type wherein intervening portions at the lower level cooperate they roof sheets are adapted and arranged to form to form the roof channels B, the body of the end a roof having alternating fiat-topped ribs and roof sheet being located at the lower level and flat-bottom channels and are connected by rigid being provided at the end of the roof with a deupstanding seams located in the channels. The pending flange 8 that is riveted or otherwise seprincipal object of the present invention is to cured to the end wall 9 of the car. devise a strong and durable, simple and economi- The roof is provided with a metal longitudinal cal lightweightv metal running board construcrunning board construction comprising inverted tion that canvbe quickly and easily applied to channel-shaped end and intermediate sections roofs of the above type and that will add little or I0 and I I, respectively, disposed in endwise alinenothing to the height of the car. The invention ment along the ridge of the roof with their upconsists in the metal running board construction per-surfaces disposed substantially at the level of and in the combinations and arrangements of the ridge portions of the roof seams C. The adparts hereinafter described and claimed. jacent ends of the running board sections are In the accompanying drawings, which form secured tothe roof seams C by running board part of this specification and wherein like symsaddles in the form of metal angle brackets I2 bols refer to like parts wherever they occur. that are disposed on opposite sides of said seams Fig. 1 is a pla-n view of the end portion of a 20 with one ange down and secured flatwise to the metal car roof provided with a metal longitudinal sides of the seam caps 6 bythe securing rivets 1 and latitudinal running board construction emtherefor and with the other flanges extending bgdyng my invention, outwardly beneath the adjacent ends of said Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the roof shown in running board sectitons and secured thereto at Fig, 1, the corners by vertical rivets I3 having flat upper Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section at the heads. The portions of the seams located beridge on the line 3 3 in Fig. l, y tween the spaced ends of the running board sec- Fig. 4 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 3, tions are protected by means of sheet metal flash- Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5 5 ings I d having hollow upstanding ribs I5 that in Fig. 1, straddle said seams and outstanding base flanges Figs. 6, 'l and 8 are vertical cross-sections on I6 interposed between the outstanding top flanges lines 6 6, 1 1 and 8 8, respectively, in Fig. 1, of the running board saddles I2 and the overly- Fig.V 9 is a fragmentary cross-section through ing ends of said sections. the latitudinal running board on the line 9 9 Each of the metal running board sections II in Fig, 1; and has a top portion with depending side marginal Fig. 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal section anges I'I that preferably increase in depth from illustrating a modified longitudinal running board their ends towards the hollow roof rib A located construction.Y therebelow where they are provided with out- Referring to the accompanying drawings my standing foot portions I3 that rest flatwise on invention is shown in connection with metal car said rib along the full width thereof. Each of roof having alternating flat-topped ribs A and these sections is also provided on its under side hat-bottomed channels B that extend cross-wise intermediate between its side marginal iianges of the car and upstanding seams C that are lowith spaced parallel hollow ribs that extend lonc`ated in the channels intermediate between the gitudinally of said section from end to end theresides thereof. Said metal roof is made up of end '45 of. The two central ribs I9 are made deep enough roof sheets I and intermediate sheets 2 that slope to bear flatwise on the top of the roof rib lodownwardly from the ridge to the eaves of the car cated therebelow adjacent to and on opposite where they terminate in down-turned iianges 3 sides of the ridge line of the roof. The remainthatare rivetedor otherwise secured to the side ing ribs 20 are relatively shallow ribs whose end plates 4 thereof. Said roof sheets are provided 50 portions overlap the outstanding flanges of the along their adjacent margins with upstanding supporting saddles I2 therefor. The rivets I3 flanges 5 that are straddled by seam caps 6, said that secure the running board sections to the flanges and caps being secured together preferrunning board saddles I2 are located between the ably by horizontal rivets I to form the seams C. depending side flanges of said sections and the As shown in the drawings, the intermediate roof outermost shallow ribs 20 thereof; suitable ller blocks 2| of a thickness corresponding to said ribs being interposed between the bottoms of said sections and the underlying base anges I4 of the flashing where the connecting rivets I3 pass through these members. As shown in the drawings, the portions between the depending hollow ribs I9 and 20 of each section are provided with a series of bossed-up openings 22 that are spaced apart longitudinally of said ribs from end to end thereof. The bottoms of said ribs are provided with drain openings 23 and the foot portions I8 of the depending side marginal flanges I'I of each section are pressed upwardly at longitudinally spaced points to provide drain openings .24.V

The flashing I4 and the running board saddles f I2 are notched as at 25 and 26, respectively, to accommodate the ends of the relatively deep ribs I9 of the running board sections. In the modification shown in Fig. 1D, the relatively deep ribs ISa gradually diminish in depth from the roof ribs to the running board saddles so that the end portions of said ribs are shallow enough to overlap said saddles, thus making it unnecessary to form the notches 25 and 26 in the flashing and running board sections, respectively.

The end running board section I8 is provided with spaced longitudinal depending ribs 29a, all of a depth corresponding to a depth of the sha1- low ribs 28 vof the intermediate running `board sections 4I. Said end section is also provided with bossed-up -openings 22a and drain openings 23a .similar to the openings 22 and 23, respectively, in the intermediate sections; and it also has depending side marginal flanges I'Ia with intu-rned lower edges I 8a. At the end of the car, the Iend running board section is supported on and secured by `rivets I3a to the lateral top flange of an end ruiming board saddle I2a whose lower end is riveted or otherwise secured to the end wall of the car. Said end section extends beyond l:

the end `of the car and has an end angle 28 welded Ato the underside thereof that is riveted to the upper lends of :running board extension brackets Zi whose lower ends Aare riveted to the end of the car.

The roof is also provided with a metal latitudinal running .board 3G that extends from the longitudinal running board to `the eaves of the roof on one side of the end running board section IB. This latitudinal running board, like the longitudinal running .board,..also has a series `of hollow longitudinal ribs 26o depending therefrom, bossed-up openings 22h and .depending side marginal .flanges Ib with inturned lower edges Ib. The -upper or inner end `of the latitudina-l running board 30 has the rebent upper flange of a pressed angle 3| welded to its underside between its depending side marginal flanges I'I-b.; and the lower flange of said end angle rests on and is riveted to the top flanges of pressed angles 32 that extend from the underside of the end section i!) beneath .said end angle at .and intermediate between said la-titudinal running board. The inner end portion of each of the angles 32 has its depending ange welded vor otherwise secured flatwise to the depending iiange of a pressed .angle 33 that is disposedV beneath .and crosswise of the end .section I!! with its ends .supported on the inturned lower edges I8a `of the .depending side marginal flanges of said section and with its top .ange bearing against .and preferably welded to .the bottoms of the depending hollow ribs 23a of said section.

The outer end of the latitudinal running board Eil `3i) has inturned top ange of a pressed angle 34 75 welded crosswise to the underside thereof with the depending ange of said angle disposed iiush with said end and at its ends on the inturned lower edges I 8b of the depending side marginal anges I 'Ib of said running board. This end angle has its depending flange welded to the upturned inner ends of pressed angles 35 that t the eaves corner of the roof and have their depending flanges secured to depending eaves flanges 3 of the roof by the securing rivets therefor. Cross angles 3B similar to the end angles .3| and 34 are secured to the underside of the latitudinal running board 30 to strengthen and stiffen same and also to facilitate mounting of a right angle or corner hand hold or grab iron 31 thereon.

The herein-before described metal running board construction is light, durable and inexpensive and adds nothing to the height of the roof; and it may be quickly and easily applied .to .the roof without any alteration thereof. The hollow ribs and .side marginal flanges serve to 4greatly increase theload carrying capacity ofthe run-ning board and `to transmit the load to the roof ribs throughout the full width thereof .along lines located at .and intermediate between the sides of the longitudinal running board, whereby said roof ribs carry .the greater part of the load and thus-enable the height of the roof seams to be reduced. The .bossed up openings form va safety tread .to prevent the .trainmen from slipping, and they also prevent cinders or .snow from .lodging on vthe running board, .the vibration of the car in service .tending to keep the holes open.

What I claim is:

1. A car roof running v.board comprising metal .sections .adapted to be disposed between adjacent seams of a car roof with their ends .supported thereon, each of said sections comprising asingle pressed metal member having depending side marginal flanges that extend from end to end of said .sections .and are adapted to rest -on said roof and depending hollow ribs that extend .from end to `-end of said section between said anges, the two central ribs of each section being deep enough to bear on the roof and .the remaining ribs being relatively shallow ribs adapted to `clear said roof.

2. A car roof running -board comprising -sheet metal sections adapted to extend from seam -to vseam of 4a car roof and across ribs therebetween, and brackets .adapted to wbe secured to said seams for supporting the .adjacent ends of the running board sections Aabove the level of the tops of said ribs, each of said sections comprising a single pressed metal member having depending side marginal anges adapted to bear against the tops of the roof ribs across the full width thereof and ser-ies of depending hollow ribs extending longitudinally of said section from `end to end vthereof between the depending .side marginal flanges thereof, .the two central ribs of `each section being relatively deep ribs `adapted to Vbear fiatwise on the tops of the roof ribs across the full width thereof and the remaining ribs of said .sections being relatively shallow ribs adapted to clear the tops of Isaid roof ribs, said shallow ribs lbeing supported at their ends on said brackets and .said brackets being cut away to raccommodat-e .the Aends .of .the relatively deep ribs.

3. A car roof running board .comp-rising sheet metal sections vadapted to .extend from seam to seam .of ascar roof .and across ribs therebetween, and .brackets adapted to be secured to said seams vfor supporting the kadjacent ends of the run-ning board sections above the level of the tops of said ribs, each of said sections comprising a single pressed metal member having depending side marginal flanges that extend from end to end thereof and are adapted to bear against the tops of the roof ribs across the full width thereof and a series of depending hollow ribs extending longitudinally of said section from end to end thereof between the depending side marginal flanges thereof, all of said depending ribs resting on said brackets at the ends of said sections, the two central ribs of said sections being of greater depth midway of their ends so as to bear flatwise on the tops of said roof ribs across the full width thereof.

4. A car roof running board comprising a longitudinal running board section with depending inturned side marginal flanges and depending hollow longitudinal ribs and cross members supported on said inturned flanges and secured to the underside of said section, a latitudinal running board section having depending side marginal flanges and depending hollow longitudinal ribs, cross members secured to the underside of said latitudinal running board at the ends thereof, members secured to the cross members of said longitudinal section and supporting the cross member at the inner end of said latitudinal run- .ning board, and brackets secured to the cross member at the outer end of said latitudinal running board and adapted to be secured to the car roof.

5. A one-piece sheet metal car roof running board section comprising a top portion with depending side marginal flanges and depending hollow ribs extending from end to end of said section, all of said ribs being of substantially theV same depth at the ends of said section, and said Vflanges and some of said ribs increasing in depth 

